Manager Ollie Drake praised his Godmanchester Rovers players for a pair of positive results earned thanks to ‘mature’ performances.

Joe Furness headed a last-minute leveller to earn a deserved 1-1 draw against second-placed Coggeshall Town in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division yesterday.

Rovers fell behind in the opening half at the David Wilson Homes Ground, but Furness popped up with his first goal of the campaign to restore parity in the closing stages after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men.

That pleasing point followed hot on the heels of an impressive midweek success in the League Challenge Cup.

Wideman Jack Chandler made the only breakthrough with an early solo effort in a 1-0 triumph at Histon in the third round of the knockout competition.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the results and performances in the last two games,” said Drake.

“I had been critical of the lads for not performing for 90 minutes, but they have been terrific from start to finish. I’ve had 100 per cent commitment and 100 per cent buy-in.

“The one word I would use to describe both performances is mature. We knew we had to start managing games better and that’s exactly what we have done.

“We’ve gone from conceding far too many goals to being very tight and it is a very welcome change.”

Rovers are now unbeaten in their last four Premier Division outings and the games continue thick and fast in the coming days.

They host Saffron Walden on Wednesday before heading to Gorleston this Saturday and Drake wants his side to prove they are better than their current league position suggests.

He added: “I don’t think that sitting 11th in the table reflects the quality of the squad we have and hopefully we can start picking up the results we need to change that.

“The aim for this season has always been to finish as high as we possibly can – and I feel we can certainly better where we find ourselves at the moment.

“We had two men sent off in the first half when being beaten at Saffron Walden in October. We’ll obviously hope to keep 11 players on the pitch and look for a different outcome.

“Going to Gorleston certainly isn’t easy either. They are always tough to face at their own place, but we’re hopeful of picking up points from both games.”

Young midfielder Charlie Dolden has joined Step 6 side Buckingham Town on loan while wideman Zac Knight-Percival has left the club.